ARGUMENTS IN HISTORY. Britain in the Nineteenth Century

Transcription

1 ARGUMENTS IN HISTORY Britain in the Nineteenth Century

2 By the same author STUDIES IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT (Macmillan) With E. E. Reynolds BRITAIN IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Cambridge University Press)

3 Arguments IN HISTOBY Britain In the Nineteenth Century N. H. Brasher Director of Studies and Senior History Master, Bexley Grammar School Palgrave Macmillan

4 N.H. Brasher 1968 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission First published 1968 Reprinted 1971, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979 Published by MACMILLAN EDUCATION LTD Houndtnills Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 2XS and London Associated companies in Delhi Dublin Hong Kong Johannesburg Lagos Melbourne Ne\\' York Singapore and Tokyo ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI /

5 UONTENTS LIST OF PLATES Vl PREFACE Vll 1. LORD LIVERPOOL Arch-mediocrity? 1 2. THE WHIGS Reformers or Reactionaries? PEEL AND THE TORIES Martyr or Renegade? PALl\IERSTON AND FOREIGN POLICY Ginger Beer or Champagne? (15 5. GLADSTONE Statesman or Bigot? 95 u. DISRAELI Statesman or Charlatan? JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN Egotist or Visionary? THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE Progress or Poverty? WAS THERE A VICTORIAN AGE? 215 SUGGESTIO~S FOR FURTHER READING 237 INDEX 245

6 LIST OF PLATES Between pages 120 and 121 The Modern Job! or John Bull and his Comforts!, 1816 Robert, 2nd Earl of Liverpool The United Cabinet, 1832 Charles, 2nd Earl Grey The Fallen Minister, 1846 Sir Robert Peel The Dogs of-war, 1859 Henry, 3rd Viscount Palmerston The First Home Rule Bill, 1886 William Gladstone The Champions, 1872 Earl of Beaconsfield Political Trinity at Loggerheads, 1885 Joseph Chamberlain Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, 1845 The painting of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort by Landseer is reproduced by gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen. The seven cartoons are reproduced by courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum, and the seven portraits by courtesy of the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery, London.

7 PREFAUE Professor C. H. Wilson in his inaugural lecture as Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University drew attention to the fact that modern historians are much less optimistic than their predecessors about the prospects of writing definitive history. Greater specialisation has created more, not less, uncertainty in our knowledge of the past. The definitive conception of history has emerged 'both bloody and bowed'.1 Dr G. Kitson Clark in his admirable survey of Victorian England expresses a similar opinion. In a chapter significantly entitled 'The Task of Revision' he writes that, 'The account of the past which satisfies a particular generation must be regarded as a working hypothesis, no more'. 2 History must edge its way forward, footnote by footnote, towards greater accuracy of statement, or so it is hoped. It is a process of endless argument and it is upon this conviction that the present book is based. Some of the arguments spring from the opposing opinions of contemporaries; some from the conflicting judgments of historians; some, more fallibly, from my own judgment of the way in which strongly divergent impressions may be formed of the same characters and events; all are designed to involve the reader's judgment as closely as possible in the issues discussed. Each chapter, therefore, is devoted to a single arguable theme. Each contains an introductory section designed to put into its context the character or problem being discussed. The remainder of the chapter is divided into two sections described simply as 'Attack' and 'Defence'; these contain opposing assessments of the policies, character, or theme under examination. These assessments are as strongly contrasted as possible 1 C. H. Wilson, History in Special and in General (London: Cambridge University Press, 1964), p G. Kitson Clark, The Making of Victorian England (London:Methuen, 1962), p. I.

8 Y.Ul PREFACE in order to stimulate thought and argument. At the same time the aim has been to avoid advancing any opinion which cannot reasonably be deduced from the facts. No attempt has been made to sum up the arguments since this would have defeated the purpose of the book. The reader himself must be the judge, sifting the evidence, and adapting the arguments given in accordance with his own judgment. When the book is used for group work, in schools and elsewhere, it will be easy to use the individual chapters as a basis for discussion or debate. Once interest is aroused it is likely that the student will wish to consult the many excellent books there are on the subjects discussed; to assist him a bibliography is given at the end of the book. It will be evident to those already familiar with the books mentioned that the list serves also as the author's debt of gratitude for many of the ideas contained in the text. It would be impossible to thank individually all those who in different ways have contributed to the writing and publication of this book, but this in no way diminishes my gratitude for a wealth of valuable advice and support. One debt of specific thanks must be paid, however. The cheerful skill with which my wife has managed home, children, and typewriter has been a constant help and has tremendously lightened the task of writing.